Another ‘Extreme Makeover’ Home in Trouble

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Home makeover winner charged with 5 violations of state dog law
Staff report
Walter Matthew Drumm, who with his wife, Blasia, was the recipient of a new home as part of a TV home makeover last fall, has been charged with five violations of Pennsylvania's dog law.
The charges, filed by dog warden Georgia Martin with Magisterial District Judge Kelly Rock, include two counts of failure to license three dogs in 2008 and this year, two counts of failure to have the dogs vaccinated against rabies last year or so far this year and one count of failure to produce a valid certificate of vaccination within 48 hours of Martin's request.
All are nontraffic summary offenses.
The Drumms own three dogs: a Lab mix, a sheep-type dog and a Chihuahua, according to the citations filed by Martin.
In the citation, she said she first requested license and rabies vaccination information from Drumm on Dec. 2, then sent a follow up request on Jan. 2. The charges were filed Jan. 17.
Drumm was cited for similar violations in 1999 and 2000. The fines for those charges were paid in December after a constable picked him up on warrants for nonpayment of the old fines.
The Drumms and their new home were featured this month on the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

gman of PA 6:42PM February 03, 2009

read all post in this link:
http://www.topix.com/forum/tv/reality/TFFL3RA1FVANO0ODG
Finally i've seen a comment from someone else that knows this family very well. I worked with this family for a year and a half. Particularily with their two sons Donnie and Nathan through my company. I must say that the parents DO NOT DESERVE this house, but the boys do. Mom calls off work all the time becuase she wants to stay home with dad who doesn't even want to work. 13 jobs in one year. They almost lost their house twice because they couldn't pay the 1,ooo dollar taxes on it. They waste moms paycheck on eating out for 3 days, dvds, video games, and action figures for the boys and have nothing left over to pay bills or buy food with. They have never maintained anything they've received, in at least suitable condition and have immense numbers of stray animals comming in to the house infesting it with fleas, disease, and waste that they seem to always "forget" to clean up. Heck, they can't even afford to buy dog or cat food for the animals they so "graciously" take in and have been known to feed them pancakes, that being the only food they had. Mom and Dad are ungreatful people, always complaining, even about those that have given them help. Extreme Makeover Home Edition, SHAME ON YOU, you should have really taken a better look at these people you build homes for. This home won't even make it 3 months until it's damaged, tore up, and unkept let alone next year when they have to pay taxes on the property. And for all of you that say they deserve this, rethink your statement. The children DESERVE this, not the parents, but you had better believe in this case, the parents will be the only ones benefiting from this

gman of 7:38PM December 09, 2008

If it's a charity she does and it's in the house can't a portion of the home be a write off? Charities are still out to make money so if they work on getting donations wouldn't a portion of that go towards the expenses she may have with the house. If she's not getting monitary donations then she needs to work more on getting that from people. Even if it's jars in the local stores that collect change for them. Neighborhood bake sales anything. If the house is big enough to rent out rooms then do that. If there are older children who really should be on there onw then they should pay her rent because they are invested in the home as well because it may be their home one day. If she really tried to get the money she'd get it. I know this may sound heartless but if she really wants to keep it she will do everything she can to keep it.

Rita of PA 12:19PM October 20, 2008

I'll bet EVERY ONE of us could use a little money management in this day and age. It seems that the poor are blamed for their poverty, when in fact most of us who think we are doing so well are probably living frivolously.
Granted a good money management course would be helpful, but I think only those on this site who have taken such a class should recommend it for others.

Man in the mirror of MO 6:59PM October 09, 2008

NO ONE needs a 7,000 s.f. house. And this woman operates a charity? Now she is the charity, thanks to this innane thinking that "bigger is better". I live grandly in 1,000 s.f. Grandly because i can AFFORD my utilities, taxes, cable. No mortgage payment as it is paid off. I am single and make less than $50,000 annually. I donate to charities and take nice trips.

circle k of FL 2:16PM October 09, 2008

The homes that Extreme Makeover builds are so huge that it is no wonder that some famililies have trouble maintaining them. The utilities alone cost three times as much as before. No amount of "money management" training will help those families who are too poor to keep up their homes and pay the utilities and taxes. The only alternative that they have is to sell the property. The show could build smaller, more energy efficient homes but that would not make great ratings TV.

Carole of PA 8:51AM October 09, 2008

These homes are so beautiful, and grand that it seems surreal that having a sad and misfortunate life can bring poeple to winning a major lotto of sorts.. I so agree that money management and the families financial abalities for upkeep need to be brought in to the decision on what kind of home should be built for each of these families. I love this program and the fact that such help is available I just feel that people in todays age do lack the proper knowledge on how to keep up on their finances.

Hard working Mom of six kids of MO 11:11PM October 07, 2008

BECAUSE SOMEONE STOLL HER HOUSE SUPLIA

HER DAUGHTER OBDULIA of CA 8:00PM October 07, 2008

Maybe instead of a trip to Disneyland, these folks should be given classes in money management. It seems to me that the recipients of the homes are left with more than enough money to maintain their homes, at least for long enough to get them off the ground.
Although I believe the show to be tremendously helpful for most of the recipients, the truth of the matter is that most of the homes are drastically overbuilt for the areas they occupy.

Third Girl 3:31PM October 07, 2008